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Messini Authentic Gyros
Categories: Restaurants Greek Restaurants Mediterranean Greek, Mediterranean [Edit]
445 Danforth AveToronto, ON M4K 1P1
Neighbourhoods: Greektown, Riverdale
(416) 778-4861
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11:30 am - 12 am
Fri-Sat 11:30 am - 4 am
Sun 12 pm - 12 am
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
71 reviews for Messini Authentic Gyros
Review Highlights
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"And you can always feed the birds with your french fries." In 9 reviews -
"Generous amount of dressing and feta cheese." In 9 reviews -
"The pita sandwiches were out of hand." In 27 reviews
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69 reviews in English
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Review from Leslie J.
Messini a hit with the locals -- always busy and bustling. That's when you know you can rely on great food and atmosphere. It's a great in-and-out spot in Greek town.
Price: Very reasonable and affordable.
Messini doesn't skimp on the feta -- they are generously sprinkled over salads and baked on top over fries which is the Grecian way.
Must-have(s):
- Any gyro combo stuffed with fries
- Fries with baked feta on top
- Fresh, warm pita slices with olive paste for spreading/dipping
- Greek salad
Service: Friendly, quick, attentive and very accommodating.
They don't "mess-ini" with your gyros here! Messini will guarantee a great meal every time.Listed in: Oh Canadia!
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Review from Chris K.
Toronto, ON
5/3/2012
I've been here a few times and haven't had a bad experience, although I have overindulged once or twice and felt like garbage afterwards.
The gyros and souvlaki are very tasty and very affordable, with some of the lowest prices on the Danforth. The Greek fries are a bit of a guilty pleasure.
I'm no authority on Greek food, but I have heard a couple of locals call Messini a "fast food" Greek joint. I don't know if the slight is due to the food, the decor and/or the fact that it's always so busy and other places are jealous. Regardless, I don't care: it's cheap and it's good.
One of my biggest gripes has been the cleanliness. It's not the cleanest place, but they recently shut down for a week for some repairs and it seems to have improved. Look, ma - no holes in the leather bench seats anymore! (Not in the booth that I was sitting in, anyway).
Plus, the pace of the restaurant is very quick and loud, with so many customers coming and going. That's a bit of a pain because sometimes you don't feel like you can sit and relax. You feel pressure to eat quickly and GTFO. So, if you're looking for a relaxed, sit-down meal with a significant other or whoever, Messini may not be the place for you. -
Review from Hubert H.
Richmond Hill, ON
2/24/2012
My Greek friends told me about this place and is now my go-to Greek place in the city.
Delicious food for really really reasonable price. Pretty cheap when you think about how much good food you get. We generally go with the platters and nothing is really a miss here. The Greek fries are also a fave here.
Not as subtle and refined as Parthenon a few doors down (which is like the classier, more upscale and pricier version) but still great and for the price point, the best there is, and one of my favorite restos in the city. -
Review from Lisasia C.
Toronto, ON
5/10/2012
The lamb and pork gyros were okay but Really TOO greasy. In fact, there was more fat than meat in our gyros. Very bad quality of food. After dinner, I felt sick after eating so much fat in just a small gyros.
Also, the place is small and quite dirty. Definitely not a place you would go for a date or special occasion. -
Review from Alysse R.
Toronto, ON
2/8/2012
I have been to Messini a number of times. It stands out in my mind as a beacon on the Danforth...amongst the touristy and overpriced Greek food spots.
I almost always order a Combo with a friend. The Combo gets you 2 sandwiches, a salad, and fries. I recommend chicken gyro sandwich, Greek salad (the type with no lettuce!) and Greek fries. Greek fries come with feta baked on top...mmm...
The combo costs around $16. So, two people can eat really delicious food - and be totally STUFFED - for about $20.
The catch is that there is often a line-up to get a table. You can also do take-out there, which is awesome, but the containers spill so be careful if you go that route. I would also warn against going here for a "nice" dinner. This is the type of place you go after work, when you want your food to come quickly! And that's exactly why I love it. -
Review from Aaron P.
1/3/2012
Came here with a friend of mine who brought me here saying that this was the best restaurant to eat at in the entire area. Boy, was this place a treat. This definitely did not disappoint.
This place is known for their gyros and rightfully so. I ordered the chicken gyro and my friend ordered the pork gyro. We came during lunch so each came with a drink and a salad,potatoes, fries or rice - All for only 8 bucks each! Anyways, the service was very friendly and I had no issues with food taking a while. This place was FULL when we arrived so you knew it had to be good.
We got pita first with a very interesting looking sauce, it's kind of purplish and there's definitely olive oil in it but I cannot lay my finger on what that sauce. Anyways, the sauce was kind of bitter yet very savory and it was really good. When the food arrived, it came in huge portions. The gyro was gigantic and they literally gave me a full big potato roasted in this yellow greek sauce. The pita was packed with fries, TONS of chicken and some onions and tzatziki sauce. It looked normal until I took a bite out of it and WOW it really was the best gyro I've ever had. The chicken had this flavor to it that was absolutely phenomenal and the fries were not dry but very soft like those mcdonalds fries that were slightly undercooked yet so good.
The meal was absolutely stuffing and by far worth every penny. There was a reason why this place was packed and why my friend brought me here and I guarantee you that you will not be disappointed by the food if you came here - I'm not sure about the service as some people have complained about it but I had no problems so be sure to check this gem out! -
Review from Nos S.
Toronto, ON
11/10/2011
I was looking since 2,5 years in Canada, for a good KEBAB, the one I used to eat in France, with lamb, onions, tomatoes, white sauce and french fries... !
I went to Messini with 2 friends, coming from France too and saying that this restaurant is the best place ever to eat Kebab as we used to have before. So we went there on wednesday night, the place was very calm, and the girls working there are very nice.. and sexy :)
The food is very good and cheap !! I had a PITA lamb which is the equivalent of the kebab we can find in Europe. For only 15 $ (tax and tips included), I had, one lamb Pita, glasses of Coke and one plate of potatoes with feta sharing with my friend.
This place is very cheap and the food is good. My first greek in Toronto. No regrets ! -
Review from Natalie T.
East York, ON
1/4/2012
VIBE
Right in the heart of Greektown, this place is always bustling and on weekends is open until the wee hours of the night. Perfect if you're in the east end and don't want to wait in line for poutine or burritos elsewhere. Or well, if you're craving Greek.
I EAT
Chicken or pork gyros. Hefty portions and just like they do it in the motherland: with the french fries wedged in. You can eat half and save the other half for later.
OBLIGATORY CATCHY REMARK
Don't mess-ini with your gyros. I know there's stiff competition with Alexandros but I think Messini will win the popularity contest in this round. -
Review from Danielle D.
Toronto, ON
12/9/2011
My friends had been raving about Messini's gyros and fries for weeks and weeks by the time I finally went with them, unfortunately I didn't have a chance to see what they were raving about.
We were sat quickly enough, just after 1:30pm on a weekday, most of us ordered the special which comes with fries or salad, pop and a gyros. After about twenty minutes the salads came. Decent enough, nothing too special, but they didn't scrimp on the feta so we were pleased.
But forty minutes later, less so. We'd been trying to get the attention of our server and had noticed that many other tables were returning food and complaining, so we were in fine company. I went to the front to speak with the cashier since our server had been ignoring us and the second I got to the cashier she runs in, waving me back and telling me that they're swamped. (Funny though, two tables who came in later were served and eating gyros way before we were, it wasn't full, but we were still gyro-less.)
It became evident that they had lost our order and forgotten about us. Instead of apologizing the server blamed the cashier and we received a new order in about 10 minutes. By the time it came to settle up we were a bit peeved but at least full. Going to pay, they had combined our bills instead of splitting them up as we requested, alright, so as we were figuring out how much we all owed, the cashier cut in, "You don't understand the bill? 5$ ISN'T enough (Referring to money I was swapping with a friend) don't you see? You had 3 items, this was $5, this was $8,..." The condescending attitude was icing on the cake.
Sure, the gyros was tasty but not enough for the time and attitude. -
Review from Michael L.
Richmond Hill, ON
10/19/2011
Introduced by my girlfriend, and must say she chooses very well!
The location is easy to remember as it is at the beginning of greektown.
Onto the main course, I have had both the dine in option and take out option. Both have their merits as the service is great and the food is easy to carry around.
The dining area is comfortable and has a very warm feeling to it. The service is very polite and effective.
The take out is quick from the ordering to the completion of cooking. Food quality is great and by far is the best gyro I have had in toronto!
Rating: 5 Stars
The only negative thing about messini is the lack of stomach space after = no room for seconds!!Listed in: Value Pack......ed Stomach =D
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Review from Juliana H.
Toronto, ON
10/1/2011
I went to Messini's for the third time today. Each time I've tried something different. The first time I had the chicken gyros which I wasn't too happy with. I thought the meat was a little sketchy. The second time I had the grilled calamari which was very good. Today, I tried the chicken souvlaki and I wished I had ordered the calamari instead. It was okay, but the pita was a little dry.
So why a four? I like the salad and the tapenade, and I really like the greek fries. They are especially good if you are a hungover... like a greasy magical cure. Each time I've gone, I've had good service - friendly and efficient. I've never encountered any of these epic waits people mention; in fact, I've never even had to wait to get a table. And for the money, the amount of food you get is insane. I always have leftovers.
No, it is definitely nothing fancy, but for quick eats, it's just fine. -
Review from jocelyn l.
6/18/2011
3.5*
I got the grilled calamari (the octopus was out) and it was done perfectly. not overcooked.
The pork souvlaki stick was flavorful but overdone..dry and tough. Not my fave.
prices are very reasonable and the outside patio is fun to hang out at -
Review from Thomas M.
Toronto, ON
10/8/2011
This is my first time travelling to Greektown and wanted to see what restaurant should I eat in for dinner, I walked around the whole Greektown to absorb the sights and sounds of this place (and hobos yelling at me) until I stop at this restaurant without knowing if it's good or not.
Luckily when I went it, it was before 6 or 7' clock so the place isn't crowded and was quickly seated close to the door which I liked. I ordered a Lamb Gyro and a Ice Tea and it took awhile for them to bring the meal but I did had the time and patience to wait in a sunny yet cool day.
When it arrived, I liked the fact that there's a couple of fries on top of the gyro to substitute the flavour but hated the sauce that was dripping down into my plate. Although, I liked the lamb, it was quite crunchy too which is always a winner in my book, it wasn't that much burnt or dry but a little bit fatty in spots.
The Lamb Gyro is like five bucks and drink is like 2 which totals to 7/8 dollars (plus tax) which is cheap considering other restaurants in Downtown being expensive.
The other huge flaw is when I'm going to paid the bill, it took awhile for it to happen due to a row of people coming in and there are one server in particular that I requested the bill numerous times but was unable to just give me the damn bill yet another young server quickly brought it. -
Review from Jason C.
Toronto, ON
4/21/2011
I have been to Greece over 20 times and can honestly tell you that this is the most authentic tasting gyros you can buy in Toronto.
The price point is here is great too. You couldn't cook all this food for less! This place is famous for it's grilled meat and gyros. Everything is good, but it's the meat that makes this place excellent.
Bravo Marino! Kala kaneis! (Good job Marino! You did well!) -
Review from Keith C.
1/27/2011
What I like about here is that if you want Greek food, you just need to take a stroll down Danforth and literally close your eyes, turn around in circles with your finger pointed and when you stop, go into that Greek restaurant. I don't think I've hit up a bad Greek restaurant on Danforth yet. I mean, some are better than others but the food is still fantastic. I do like how Messini has an outdoor patio. Bring a girl here in the fall at sunset, a nice breeze, a good bottle of red, delicious Greek food. Not bad.
Ever since trying the fish of the day at multiple Greek restaurants, I have never been disappointed. However, I was not able to get this option at Messini's on the day that I came.
The grilled Kalamari has now become a fan favorite appetizer and it still has not changed coming here. So since I couldn't any fresh fish dish, I settled with the mixed grill platter. I was seriously thinking of going with the calamari platter but I didn't need to have an appetizer and a main course of the same thing so why not change it up. And plus, the picture in the menu made it look so appetizing. Well. Not gonna lie, it did not disappoint. Never was a big fan of the way the Greek people cooked their potatoes so I settled with the rice which when mixed with everything, was delicious.
If I ever start twirling around with my finger extended and stop on this restaurant, I will be more than happy to enter knowing that I can get some good Greek food.Listed in: Going Greek?
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Review from Dale M.
Toronto, ON
2/13/2011
Open since 2002 after a test run at Toronto's famed Taste of the Danforth festival, Messini has paid its dues and become a mainstay for the after-work and after-bar crowd in the east end. Located just east of Chester station this cozy, diner-like hotspot serves up comfort classics like gyros and souvlaki with a pleasant touch of back-home authenticity.
Making the most of a rare trip to the Danforth my companion and I sampled widely from the menu, ordering a stack of appetizers, a sandwich and a grill plate. A great idea had I shown the good sense to skip the late lunch I had consumed just a few hours prior.
We decided to take the food as it came, with cold beers to keep us company between arrivals. First up was the Saganaki ($7.95), a generous wedge of fried cheese served with pita (fresh-made daily). Dense, firm, crispy and salty, it was more than enough to keep two of us happy and looking forward to the rest of the meal.
Next to arrive were the Kalamaki ($1.75 each), skewers of cubed pork, char-grilled and served with tzatziki. The meat was juicy and well-seasoned, with the dip offering a cool, refreshing hit against the savoury meat. At this price I won't pass by again without stopping in for one (or three).
We rounded out the starters with Greek Fries ($3.95). Ripple-cut potatoes lined a banquet plate, topped with a vast expanse of feta, olive oil and oregano. We guiltily indulged in this rich, dense creation, barely pausing for words between mouthfuls.
My friend valiantly challenged the Mixed Grill Plate ($13.95), a tower of shaved gyros, pork souvlaki, Greek-style sausage and a meat kebab (lamb and beef). Already subdued by the appetizers, he struggled to finish and eventually relegated the remainder of his plate to the next day's lunch, having thoroughly enjoyed every bite he could muster.
I turned my attention to what Messini claims is Toronto's best-tasting gyro ($4.58 for the sandwich). It's stuffed with French fries, the way you'd find it at a fast-food stand in many a Greek metropolis. Strangely, it was the only disappointment of the evening; while the pita was fluffy ad flavourful, the sandwich was a bit on the dry side and the fries made little contribution beyond adding some novelty. A bit more tzatziki would have done the trick - be sure to ask for extra.
Greek cuisine is inherently meat-intensive, and I for one am OK with that. There are a few vegetarian options on the menu, but vegans will be hard-pressed to put a meal together. It's not exactly fine dining, but the food at Messini will leave even the most devout carnivore satisfied at any hour (they're open until 4AM on weekends!) and the value is rarely matched. -
Review from Erwin M.
6/28/2011
having an unexpectedly fantastic meal at Le Coin Grec in Montreal I am beginning a quest for equally amazing greek options in Toronto. I've always enjoyed greek cusine here and there but that Montreal experience absolutely knocked it out of the park for me and I want more.
Where else better to start my search than with my most trusted food resource,Yelp, discovering Messini to be exact.
Deep fried calamari, good. souvlaki, good (expecting great). greek fries, ok. Prices, great! Relatively cheap for the serving sizes. Overall, great prices for just ok food. -
Review from August L.
Updated - 7/14/2011
Food poisoning...oh my...
WAIT TIME
So this place is packed. The guys preparing the gyros work so hard and really fast. But I was still waiting a long time for the take-out. Maybe they need another person to prepare the food.
FOOD
I really like eating Gyros. I think they are so tasty. My friend had lamb and I had pork.
My pork was pretty tough and had alot of gristle.
My friend got food poisoning! He was sick for several days.
So sad, I liked the gyros hereListed in: The Danforth
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/15/2010
If the waitress says they are known for their gyro...just order the damn gyro.
FOOD
But no...we had… Read more »
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Review from Mike M.
Toronto, ON
8/15/2011
Ok Messini...I like you. You make me happy. But you have some problems.
Pros.
1.Very tasty gyros. Good tzatziki. Good pita. And for the most part, good meat. In my opinion, the best gyro you can get in Toronto.
2. Feta fries are pretty great.
3. Cheap. Very cheap. For the quality and quantity, the price cannot be beat.
4. Awesome location in the heart of Toronto's Greek Town.
Cons.
1. Lamb can be very fatty. Tried it 3 times. First time was amazing, second time was so fatty and burnt that it was almost inedible, and the third time was decent. Always have been happy with the chicken. Pork can be a little dry, but it is still delicious.
2. Service is pretty awful. Slow and sometimes rude. One of the last times that I went, two cooks were having a full blown fight while cooking. ("kitchen" is right at the entrance and completely open for everyone to see). They were yelling at each other for probably 20 minutes. No manager or supervisor stopped them. The restaurant was PACKED too. One time, our server completely forgot about us. So if you're looking for great service, don't expect it here.
3. The rest of the food is just meh. Greek salad is a typical Toronto version. Very unauthentic. Grilled Calamari was good, but overly chewy.
Overall, this is my favorite Greek casual restaurant in Toronto. I am Greek and from Montreal, so I have been VERY spoiled with incredible Greek food (at home and at restaurants). I think the Greek food in Toronto is pretty awful and so I was pleasantly surprised when I had Messini. I do think that it is better than Marathon Restaurant in Montreal. But besides the gyros, nothing else is even comparable to Montreal restaurants (Mythos, Milos, Tripolis, Elounda, Atomic...the list goes on).
Now that I am settled in Toronto, Messini's is my go to Greek Restaurant. -
Review from Raz A.
Toronto, ON
12/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Went there with my husband for lunch today , it was pretty busy when we walked in . We had to wait for 10 minutes to be seated , then we ordered Stella but the server said only one beer was left so we got a Heineken . Then I ordered the chicken gyro and my husband ordered the chicken souvlaki which took 45 minutes for us to get we probably should have ordered a sandwich and got it over with . The service was ok not memorable .
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Review from Eric L.
2/17/2011
This place felt like a very generic Greek restaurant. Nothing fancy, nothing out of the ordinary, but nothing bad. It had decent prices and decent portions, with decent service, and decent freshness.
Convenient for lunch and the service was pretty fast, but not something you want to go for a date or special occasion. -
Review from Phillip Jessie j.
Toronto, ON
12/24/2010
Great place for Greek food.
I'm particularly fond of their octopus and their gyros pizza, but their salads, Greek fries, and most of their appetizers are all good too. A meal for 4 people here is something like $50, I've come here and its been $16 to stuff 2 people!
The tzatziki is good, but I'm not a fan of the gyros, Louis meat market (right next door, to the east) is infinitely better, and slightly cheaper. However messini is an actual restaurant where Louis meat market is a butcher shop with a few tables. something about the gyros here taste funny although the gyros meat is the real stacked meat here (I can't stand that gyros sausage bullshit)
their pita is also slightly disappointing, you get very little bread when you order the pita, but I LOVE the mashed olives it comes with, see the little black sauce in the picture.
The atmosphere is nice in messini, if a little crowded, I've come here at 3 pm on a Monday and the line has still been out the door. Don't even think about it on a Saturday night or something. They're open fairly late too. Most of the time I don't even bother because there are so many other places to get food without waiting 30 minutes.
a great place, but please don't come here, it's already too crowded ;) -
Review from Justin B.
Etobicoke, ON
3/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
Greek salad had lots of cucumber and a good amount of feta. Ordered the mixed platter that included pork, lamb and sausage which came as a pile of greek love, plus an extra side of potatoes. The sovalki chicken was on the dry side but the gyros pork was excellent as well as the lamb. $16
My friend enjoyed a lamb gyro with fries inside it which was a hit. $5 bucks flat.
The third member in the party ate a chicken gyro dinner plate with greek salad, and potatoes.
Tasty, inexpensive and overall good food. Review is based on price, as there is potentially better Greek in the Danforth. -
Review from Monica K.
North York, ON
3/2/2011
I LOVE greek food. My friend had been raving about this place for weeks after "discovering" it and we finally gave it a shot today. Despite having been hyped up, the gyros at Messini did not disappoint.
The greek fries (with feta cheese) were cheap, but weren't as amazing as I expected them to be, but the Gyros were delicious, filling, and very reasonably priced. My bill for the pork and chicken Gyro came to just a little over $5 after tax & tip. For a cheap eat, the restaurant was nice and clean, and the food didn't leave me with that nasty greasy feeling! Yay!
I also hear this place is open pretty late. I would definitely recommend this place, and come back here myself! Yummmm!
Update: the gyros were soo good I was actually craving one all day today. -
Review from Keeley-Ann H.
Mississauga, ON
5/22/2011
My bf had been talking about this place for as long as ive known him and he hadnt even been there before. Word on the block was this was the spot for gyros, and the block was right. We finally made it in here last week and was stuffed to brim!! We ordered 2 chicken gyros and greek fries. Both came with a side so we got salads cause fries would have been too much, especially cause they put fries IN your gyro lol. The salad was large and the grek fries were even larger covered in feta cheese!! soo frikkin good......and the gyro is actualy WICKED! like delish delish delish. The tzatziki was redick and the chicken was juicy...yumzz!
Def go here, dont skip out!! -
Review from Donna C.
1/2/2011
Some of the best gyros I've ever had and a really good lunch deal to boot! Feta fries (+$1), generous gyro platter/sandwich, and a pop. Not a lot of seating but easy to take out.
I definitely miss Danforth now that I've moved to Chicago. Just can't get good Greek food here and always make a trip to Danforth every time I'm in town! -
Review from Ann W.
Kitchener, ON
I ordered their pork gyro pita with salad and a drink. Total of $7.45+tax.
The portion was awesome! I shared with my husband and we were both stuffed. Food is tasty although they could've thrown in some more of that delicious sauce they use. It's a perfect lunch place and I'm definitely returning to try more. -
Review from Zed E.
Toronto, ON
12/2/2011
The chicken gyros were bland and overlooked. The price is cheap and portions are massive but I don't know what people are raving about. The service was very good - hence 2 stars. The roasted potatoes, although good, were drenched in oil - it made me ill. For the price - you get what you pay for....
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Review from Mochi M.
3/15/2011
I'm picky, what can I say?
The pork souvlaki is delicious, but the service is crap! The waitress gave a nasty eye to ordering more food (it's MORE FOOD, just bring it!) and she forgot so many side dishes it was getting to be frustrating. And not for us either, the girls beside us were missing a lot of things too.
Rice was mediocre, the potatoes were oily and while it was tasty in general, perhaps Greek food isn't my thing.
I did however, wish I had ordered more pork souvlaki. It was amazing. -
Review from James V.
Toronto, ON
3/7/2010
This is like my GO TO place for Greek food.
Look around you. The Danforth is packed with Greek restaurants after Greek restauranst. But do you know who is always the busiest? Messini's, that is who. Nobody in the entire district is busier. In fact, I sometimes think the surrounding restaurants just feed off of the people that do not wait in line for Messini's. Your balls shrivel up when forced to wait out in the cold... and who wants that?
Let's start the discussion with their gyros. Massive is an understatement. So massive is the girth, watching girls trying to force this down their throats is a sight to behold. But at Messini's, it is not just about the size. No sir, it is about quality and flavours, and their gyros have both.
Be sure to grab some Greek fries too. I don't know if Greeks in Greece actually eat this for real or not, but even if they didn't, this would be one of those bastardized masterpieces. They are coin shaped potato fries finished with olive oil, oregano and tons of feta layered on top. Then it spends a couple quality minutes under a salamander oven and comes out all golden delicious.
Lastly, I would normally not waste my time to write about a salad, but their Greek salad is probably the best in the entire world. Sorry, no lettuce fillers here; just tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, bell peppers, feta and dressing. Oooh and what dressing. Home made done right.
Oh yeah, word of advice. During the winters, do not be seated by the front windows. Not only does the cold draft sneak in through the folding windows themselves, but also from all the oblivious melonheads holding the door wide open during middle of a blizzard. This forces you to dine with your jacket on... or suffer with shrivelled balls (or rock hard nipples, depending on your gender). -
Review from Vanessa M.
North York, ON
8/19/2009
Alright, so I have a confession to make... I've been coming here for a few years, on a regular basis. What can I say about their gyros--legendary! I think what sets Messinis apart from everyone else is their phenomenal value (you could never cook this for cheaper at home, or have the means to), and freshness of the food, due to their sheer volume of sales.
Line up to get in is the normal--at all hours of the day. In fact, it is not unusual to see the line up spill to outside. But there is a good reason for that, and it is the quality of their food. You can choose from chicken, pork or lamb gyros--and the size is definitely supersize me. I cannot finish one myself, although I am sure someone with a healthy appetite can. Inside, you will find it stuffed and spilling out with shaved seasoned caramelized meat, tzatziki, tomatos, onions and fries.
Other things to try for sure: greek fries, greek salad, souvlakis and seafood. All very very yummy.
The greek fries, are little round fries, topped off with feta cheese, olive oil and dried oregano. Then it is put under a salamander, so everything crisps up at the top. There are other choices of carb side dishes, like roast potatoes (pretty good) and rice, but definitely get the greek fries ($1 extra over regualar fries, but totally and utterly worth the upgrade).
The greek salad is more of the traditional style, and does not contain lettuce--you will chunky cuts of tomatos, cucumbers, onions, black olives, green peppers and dressing (seems to be citris, olive oil, oregano, and other spices). In the summer, it is very refreshing.
Souvlakis usually take a litlte long to come out, because of the grill time. You can have your choice of either chicken or pork. They are about an inch and half thick, about a foot long and comes with a side of tzatziki. You will find that it has nice charred taste outside, and moist meat inside.
As far as seafood goes, they grill shrimp skewers and calamari on their grill. Size of the shrimp can vary depending on the day, but they are usually about medium size. Dip both into their tzatziki--mmmmm!
The atmosphere is very casual, so there is no need to dress up. Just come as you are. They open late evenings on weekends, with a limited menu (to gyros on a pita, fries and salad), and attracts a lot of bar crowds. You will always though, find the food very clean, and service is usually very friendly (although at times the staff is overwhelmed by the volume of customers).
I have taken many friends, family and guests to this restaurant, and everyone raves about it afterwards, regardless of their age, background or tastebuds. Order smart (like combos, for two people), and you really do not need more than $10 per person. -
Review from Junaid U.
Toronto, ON
5/8/2009
FETA!
If you like feta, then you're gonna love Messini. In my opinion, this is one of the best restaurants if you're looking for good value.
Naturally being located in the centre of Greektown, they have a pretty standard greek menu.
Messini offers a dinner option that is called a combo dinner. It includes a pita with an olive paste, a greek salad, a plate of fries and two entrees that you can choose from a list including souvlaki, gyro, and some other filler items. If you pay an additional $2, you can upsize your fries to greek fries, and that may very well be the best $2 you ever spend in your life. The greek fries here are to die for and the one thing that bothers me about Toronto is that this is the only place that i know that serves this simple yet stellar dish. I know Alexandria's has greek fries but after having had them from here, mentioning any other place for greek fries almost becomes blasphemous!
The gyros are gyros...i think the chicken and lamb are both wonderful...n yeah, they got fries in em too which most people seem to be raving about. I personally think both the chicken and lamb gyros are good especially as part of the combo...but its still not what i go there for (im a shawarma guy...gyros are good, but not even in the same league as a good shawarma in my opinion).
If you got two people, i think the combo is the most perfect sit-down dinner for two under $20 that you can get in downtown toronto. Nice ambience, 4 course meal, and pretty good service as well.
The last time i was at Messini, there were five of us meaning we could only get two combos and the fifth person was to be the odd one out ordering straight off the menu. So i experimented by getting a plate of greek fries to myself as well as a plate of gyro meat...PHENOMENAL! I personally enjoyed that meal more then the standard combo, but for first timers wanting the full experience, i recommend starting with the combo, and then graduating onto the greek fry fanatic with greek fries and a side of your favorate gyro meat on the side (about $10 for both items).
Enjoy your experience and watch out for rush hour because exceptional food at cheap prices will often result in LONG line-ups during the peak timings. -
Review from Laura C.
Toronto, ON
8/24/2010
Busy busy busy. You have people coming in just for a take out gyros, and you have singles cramped up against the tables on the side, and you have parties of 2 or more in the already small, restaurant.
The place for sit down is tiny. The were a few tables awardly placed in spots, but it was still okay. It's noisy, but you can get a conversation in.
The service was good, even though I noticed one guy checking his iPhone constantly, he also was always watching and on top of the water filling, and plate taking away when needed.
Food was good. Lots of selection and not just gyros. it's like Bubba Gump, but gyros style. Gyros with pita, gyros with rice, gyros with souvlaki sticks, gyros just meat and they have lamb, pork and chicken.
They also had a beef/lamb kebab which was really good.
The best deal on the menu was the pita for $7-9 depending on the meat you get. if you want salad and rice, add another $5.
I'd come back again, but there's just so much choice along the strip. I like this because it was highest rated, and cheaper, no pretentiousness. -
Review from Monica B.
Toronto, ON
8/11/2010
I love eating at Messini! There is no place on the Danforth nor anywhere else in the city where you can find authentic Greek gyros, they make it just like it is in Greece.
Messini is a little restaurant tucked away on the Danforth and it's always loaded. The takeout line and the restaurant is always full, which shows you how much people love this place. The menu has a variety of delicious Greek food at such an inexpensive price and the portions are nice and big! Expect to be very stuffed, they do not skimp with anything, especially the feta cheese, it's piled on like crazy- the way I like it. If you love soft drinks with your meal you will love this place, they give you free refills!
The service is excellent and the people working there are kind. It's always great to be at Messini and I totally recommend this place. The only downfall about this place is that it has no desserts and it can get a tad bit uncomfortable with the amount of people in such a tiny place.Listed in: Greektown
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Review from Jenny T.
3/18/2010
I seriously think this place is overrated. I've been here a handful of times and it's always so busy at the place where people line-up to get take-out, which is also the same spot you're supposed to wait to get a table.
To sum it up, I like the salads, they are big and they don't skimp out on tomatoes or feta cheese. Their chicken is always dry and their potatoes are super oily. The staff are getting their job done but they don't impress.
If you come here, get the gyro pita to-go and you will be happy. -
Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
3/30/2010 4 photos
I don't eat Greek food that often... as not often as this is the 2nd time in my lifetime. The first time I have Greek food, I never enjoyed it.. I think it is at one of those Mr. Greek place. But thanks for fellow yelpers highly recommended Messini Authentic Gyros.. I now starting to have cravings for tzatziki!!!
We arrived at around 4 pm on a weekday afternoon! Gee this place is packed!! Almost all the tables were occupied. I enjoy busy restaurants since it is a sign of good food and the atmosphere.
My friend ordered the grilled pork dinner and I ordered the chicken Souvlaki pita.
The dinner came with a generous serving of Greek salad and bread with olive paste. I am not a cheese person but I love the feta cheese that was inside the salad. The bread is nice and warm and have good texture.. (my carb craving was satisfied!!) The pork though, we found that a little dried... but still tasty!
When I ordered my gyros, I was informed the wait wil be 20 min! And I have to tell you that my gyros really worth my wait. The pita bread ah ah ah...carbs! It was stuffed with tzatziki ozzing out with every bite! This is such a good take out items to enjoy in the park on a nice summer day! And you can always feed the birds with your french fries!
The domestic beer are selling for $3.95 that is quite reasonable and will be great to wash down with the gyros!!
The services was quick and efficent. as Jenny T mentioned, they got their job done;
The food is great and the price is reasonable, this is always a winning combination!
They accepts all credit cards. -
Review from G K.
Mississauga, ON
9/12/2010
Without a doubt the best casual dining spot on the Danforth.
Ordered a couple of gyros, which were good, the chicken was dry however, the fries are a fast food staple and are a nice inclusion in the gyros.
Also had the saganaki which was served without lemon (inexcusable) and was sort of cold, why not light it on fire and douse it with lemon like everyone else?
The tirokafteri was good, though they give you one pita for a fairly decent chunk of spread, get with it and don't cheap out on the pita! It was annoying asking the server for order after order of pita.
Ended the meal with an order of tiropita (cheese pie) which was excellent, almost as good as grandma makes it! This redeemed the meal although I'm unsure if it is made on site (unlikely) or they just reheat on order. Either way it is excellent.
Service speed and friendliness was excellent, and an excellent value for your money.
A good spot that is easy on the wallet and not as formal (or good) as Mezes. -
Review from Justin S.
3/13/2010
After wandering (somewhat) aimlessly through Downtown Toronto, going up into the CN Tower and subwaying it over to Danforth for lunch, Messini is an awesome choice for a very good (very big!) meal. I have a fair amount of experience with Greek food being from NYC, but this place blows everything out of the water as far as I'm concerned.
They have a great lunch menu with your typical assortment of gyros, pitas, souvlaki, etc. I had the pork gyro which was excellent and service with these great Greek-style crinkle cut French fries (and fries in the pita as well!?). The food was fresh, flavorful and served promptly. The lunch special includes a beverage, so for something like $8.00, you have a great meal.
There was a big lunchtime crowd when we went and the place itself is nice and modern and the service was fast and efficient. A little excursion over to Greektown will be worthwhile if you come to Messini. -
Review from Nicole C.
8/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
IT'S LIKE MAN VS FOOD IN A SANDWICH!!! SO GOOD! SOOOOO GOOD. Seriously they put the fries in your gyro. Now when I'm at home I just put everything into a kaiser...pancakes, bacon and hash browns in a kaiser? MOAR CARBS? Yes please.
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Review from eune y.
Toronto, ON
3/28/2009
I mean, how can you give a place that puts a french fries in a hand held edible masterpiece any less than 5 stars? Okay, I will admit I am really reviewing the veggie pita these guys do as I've never eaten the gyros filled pitas. I am told that their meat is really great especially 'cause they're so busy that they're always bringing a fresh spit out and the meat's not just sitting for days on end like your typical gyros and it's not the unidentifiable pate style but rather hunks of meat that is layered onto the spit and than carved off and grilled. The veggie pita has exactly the same contents as the gyros filled one but with a little extra helping of their olive tapenade and grilled veg with lots of tzaziki. I like heavy winter food and this is the ultimate hibernation meal!
The place is always pretty packed even during the week but there's never really a long wait despite the relatively small size of the dining room. They've got a 2 pita and salad combo for $12.95 that more than sufficiently will feed two people as their servings are very welcoming. I'm also a fan of their round, crinkle cut fries that are topped in feta...I know their just from frozen but their roundness somehow make 'em fun to eat....and then they're topped with cheese...(hey, I look at it as an excuse to take advantage of my dusty gym membership.)
Oh yes, and always really fast and friendly service. Fanopatastic!
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